From the Bookshelf of The Agatha Christie Reading Group…

Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)

Agatha Christie

Start date: June 22, 2021

Finish date: June 30, 2021

Discussion leader: C. J. Scurria

Why we're reading this: A well-known book from the Poirot series of many books. Can our "grey cells" handle this one? Maybe but "…more
[close] A well-known book from the Poirot series of many books. Can our "grey cells" handle this one? Maybe but "ask" Poirot before you speak so confidently about it...!

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Aug 20, 2022 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Over the last couple of years I have been working my way through Agatha Christie's writing in publication order. Agatha has been my favorite author since I was 9 and spent a summer reading through some old Poirot paperbacks I found at a garage sale.

I have worked my way through several novels and collections of short stories, and the latest read in my All Things Christie quest is: Murder on the Orient Express, one of Agatha Christie's most famous mysteries. Orient Express has been adapted for rad Over the last couple of years I have been working my way through Agatha Christie's writing in publication order. Agatha has been my favorite author since I was 9 and spent a summer reading through some old Poirot paperbacks I found at a garage sale.

I have worked my way through several novels and collections of short stories, and the latest read in my All Things Christie quest is: Murder on the Orient Express, one of Agatha Christie's most famous mysteries. Orient Express has been adapted for radio, film, television...even a graphic novel and a video game. In my opinion, it's one of the best murder mystery stories ever written.

Murder on the Orient Express was first published in the UK in January 1934. Later that year it was published in the US under the title Murder in the Calais Coach.

The basics: Hercule Poirot is abroad when he is called back to London unexpectedly. He boards a train filled with an interesting mix of passengers. Unfortunately, the train is forced to stop due to snow blocking the tracks. The next morning it is discovered that there is more than snow causing problems -- one of the passengers has been murdered. (cue dramatic music stab here)

I find this story an interesting and creative mystery. A train full of passengers. Snow strands the train in a remote spot, making it nearly impossible for anyone to get onto the train and murder someone, and equally as impossible for anyone to kill and then leave the train. So, the murderer must still be on the train....but who is it? A passenger? A railway employee? Hercule Poirot is soon on the case to use his little grey cells to ferret out the killer!

Pretty silly for someone to commit a murder on a train with Hercule Poirot on board! Big mistake!

I listened to the audio book version (HarperAudio) of this story. I finally listened to an Poirot novel narrated by David Suchet!!!! And he did a superb job!! I loved every minute of it!

Now that I have finished the audio book, I'm going to go watch film and television adaptations and decide which one I like the best! This is one of my favorite Christie novels. I'm going to enjoy reading and watching just about everything based on it that I can find before moving on to the next story in my Christie quest!

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Nov 12, 2016 Mustansir Chudawala rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-shelf, murder

Reviewing a Murder-Detective Book is very difficult as you have to fill in the details which turns out to be spoilers for those who haven't read the book.

Murder on the Orient Express might not be the one of the best of Agatha Christie's ( my POV ) but it is certainly one the most delightful read . You hate the one who has been murdered and you feel that the murderer has done a great job by killing that bastard . In a way you feel sympathetic towards the murderer. It makes good read. Plus the fin ...more

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Aug 10, 2015 Edward Davies rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Possibly Christie's most famous novel, this has the ending anyone familiar with the book or the adaptations can't help but enjoy. I won't spoil things for those that don't know, but the setup for the concluding chapter is well thought through and has one of the best mystery-solving step-by-step guides I've seen her write thus far. ...more

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